Prep Hockey: Rockford Icemen begin run at new streak

Thursday

Mar 6, 2014 at 9:08 AMMar 6, 2014 at 9:08 AM

By Brenda YoungRockford Register Star

Was last year's Blackhawk Cup state championship the start of new streak for the Rockford Icemen?

They begin their quest to answer that question Saturday, when the prep hockey team plays its opening-round playoff game against Plainfield in the Combined Varsity Division of the Illinois High School tournament.

The Icemen are seeking the program's 17th state title overall. The team rattled off 15 in a row before bowing out in the 2012 semifinals. But they returend to the top last year and look to get back to the finals, set for Thursday, March 20 at the United Center in Chicago.

A senior laden team led forward Jonathan Pirrie and captain Reno Murphy heads into the tournament with a 17-15-1 record, good enough to earn the top seed.

The Icemen will play No. 16 Plainfield (7-23-2) at 3:50 p.m. Saturday at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville.

Icemen coach Tim Mattila said he doesn't know much about Plainfield, as his team hasn't faced them this season.

"We realize at this time of the year, we're focusing on what we have to do," he said. "We have one game on our schedule and we have to win one game at a time, four times in a row to reach our goal."